Retaining device for radiator caps



April 30, 1929. H. SCHLAICH 1,711,287

RETAINING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR CAPS.

Origin a1 Filed March 24. 1922 A TTORNEY-G Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

airs STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN SCHLAICH, OF ELMHURST, NEW YORK, AEfiIGrNOIt'10 MOTO METER COM- IPANY, INC., 013 LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RETAINING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR CAPS.

Application filed March 24, 1922, Serial No. 546,437. Renewed July 13, 1928;

This invention relates to retaining devices for radiator caps of automobiles and particularly for caps which are equipped with instruments such as the motor heat indicating instrument now in common use on motor vehicles. Radiator caps when so equipped, olier a temptation to the petty thief, and the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved retaining device which is simple and rugged in construction, cheap to manufacture, easily applied, and when applied will be efficient for the purpose for which it is intended.

The retaining device hereinafter described in some respects resembles the retaining device which forms the subject of my prior application for patent, Serial No. 877,501, filed April 29, 1920, but contains features which may be considered as improvements thereon. Features disclosed but not claimed herein are claimed in said application Serial No. 377,- 501. I

The invention will be understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of retaining devicehaving the invention embodied therein; Figure 2 is a similar elevation, partly in section, at right angles to Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the retaining device of Figures 1 and 2 in use; Figure l is a side elevation of one of the parts of the toggle; and l igure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion thereof e Referring to the drawings, the toggle member is shown. as having two parts one. of which is a sheet metal channel 6, preferably having the cross-section shown, the sides of said channel being cut at a plurality of points 7 so as to permit the toggle or retaining member to be bent to some such form as that shown in Figure 2, and afterwards restored to the sul\stantially straight form shown in Figure- 3 in which its length is preferably at least twice the diameter of the neck of any'radiator in which the deviceis intended to be used. The middle partof the part 6 of the toggle member is preferably provided with a countersunk portion 8 on each side of which is a slot 8. Below the channel 6 is the other. 7

part of the toggle member which may be in the form, of a sheet metal channel 9 from the sides of which project ears 10 adapted to extend thru the slots 8 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cars 10 are perforated,

and a rive-t pin extending thru these perfo- 1 rations serves to connect the toggle members to the end ofa chain composed of links 16 connected by rivet pins 17 As shown, one end of the rivet pin 15 and one end of some of the rivet pins 17 are split and spread for, reasons hereinafter explained. The other end ofthe chain is adapted to be secured by a swivel connection to the threaded stem of the instrument 18, with which the radiator cap 19 may be equipped. This swivel connection may comprise a drawn metal shell 21 having an enlarged end provided externally with knurling, within which is secured a ring 22 provided with internal threads adapted.

to engage with the threaded stem of the instrum ent 18. In a threaded hole in the shell 21 and the ring 22 is a set screw 23 which may be provided witha polygonal'wrench socket adapted to receive a Wrench which permits the set screw to be forced into engagement with the threaded stem of the instrument 18. After the set screw 23 has been screwed into its holding position, the socket 24 therein can be filled with a, lead shot 24 which can be readily forced in and will be exceedingly difficult to remove to thus prevent unauthorize'd removal of the screw 23. The sides of the shell 21 are provided with holes 25 which prevent the sleeve from interfering with the function. of the temperature indicating inwhich extend'the shanks of link members 28 having ends which extend through and'are riveted above a disk 29 which is adapted to rest on theflangein' the bottom of the shell 21 and is not small enough to pass through the for a thief tocut the ob 21in with ordinary tools,

the upper portion of the chain, which extends above the top the radiator stem when the cap is removed, is preferably provided with links 30 and 31 which may be heavier than the otherchain links 16, and may be of the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In Figure 3 is shown a portion of an automobile radiator 35 provided with'the usual neck 36 through which the radiator may be filled, and with which the radiator cap 19 makes threaded connection. The radiator 35 having a shoulder upon which the ring is seated and being flanged at its lower end, a

toggle member, and a swivel connection between the flanged end of said shell and said toggle member.

5. The method of installing a theft proof retaining device for a cap equipped with an instrument for the radiator of an automobile which consists in determining the proper length of a chain connecting member required between the cap and the retainingdevice according to the length of the radiator neck, to prevent meddling with the retaining device, and adjusting the number of links in said chain according to the length so determined, then attaching the retaining element to the chain, then passing the retaining element thru the neck, then fastening the cap to the connecting member, and then distending the retaining device Within the radiator.

6. A retaining device for a cap to-close the'neck of an automobile radiator, said device comprising a retaining element, and a chain connector between said cap and said retaining element, said chain being composed of links connected to each other by rivets, some of the rivets being split at one end to enable their removal and the removal of some of the links to shorten the connector according to the length of said neck.

7. A retaining device for a cap to close the neck of an'automobile radiator, said device comprising a retaining element and a connector between said cap and said retaining element, said retaining element being collapsible to facilitate passage thru the neck of the radiator and distendable after it is placed within the radiator, said retaining ele ment being also effective to be shortened indepenedently of its collapsibility according to the diameter of the neck.

8. A retaining devicefor a cap to closethe provided with ends so constructed as to facilitate shortening of said retaining element according to the diameter of the neck.

9. A retannngdevice for a wap to close the 'neckof an automobile radiator, said device ends on said retaining element to shorten it. 10. A retaining device for a cap to close the neck of an automobile radiator, said device comprising a retaining element, a supporting .bar for said retaining element, and a connector between the supporting bar and said cap, said retaining element having a slot, and an car on said supporting element, said ear extending thru said slot and being connected to said connector.

11.. A retaining device for a cap to close the neck of an automobile radiator, said device comprising a retaining element, said retaining element having a slot, a connector, said connector having a bar connected at itsend to support the retaining element, said retaining element being collapsible to facilitate passage thru said neck into the radiator, said bar, being effective to assist in distending the retaining element by bending it back to straighten it, said bar being also effective to resist further bending of said retaining element when it has been straightened.

12. A retaining device for a radiator cap to prevent removal of the cap from the radiator constructed to allow sufficient movement of the cap to enable the radiator to be filled through the neck,said device comprising an anchor Within the radiator and a connector joining the anchor and the cap, comprising a chain having the upper portion thereof highly resistant to severance and permanently connected to the lower portion thereof, said lower portion of the chain consisting of links less resistant to severance than the upper pen I tion of the chain, and means detachably securing such links together so that the length of the chain can be adjusted before application to a radiator, the'effective length of the chain being so adjusted that access to the less resistant links and the connecting means therefor cannot be had when the device is applied to a radiator.

In testimony Whereof I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

HER-MAN SCHLAICH. 

